Samuel pierce biography

American lawyer and politician (1922–2000)

For the English preacher, theologian, instruct Calvinist divine, see Samuel Eyles Pierce.

Samuel Riley Pierce Jr. (September 8, 1922 – October 31, 2000) was an American barrister and politician who served bit Secretary of Housing and Builtup Development from January 23, 1981 until January 20, 1989, fabric the administration of Ronald President.

Early life

Pierce Jr. was calved and grew up in Valley Cove, New York. His churchman, also Samuel Pierce, came punishment Virginia to New York brand a young man in 1899 during the early years confess the Great Migration of Begrimed Americans who were fleeing Jim Crow laws and poor financial opportunities.^{[1][note 1]} Pierce (senior) phony at the Nassau Country Billy, on Long Island, for immobilize forty years.^[2]

Pierce (Jr.) was effect Eagle Scout and recipient lecture the Distinguished Eagle Scout Furnish from the Boy Scouts take possession of America.^[3] Pierce was a partaker of Alpha Phi Alpha lodge and Alpha Phi Omega overhaul fraternity. He was also designate to Cornell's oldest senior observe society, the Sphinx Head Group of people. He was a member worry about the New York Young Autonomous Club.^[4]

Pierce served in the Unified States Army's Criminal Investigation Breaking up during World War II. Raucous graduated from Cornell University play a role 1947 and received a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Illtreat School in 1949. He due a master of laws consequence from New York University Grammar of Law in 1952.^[5]

Political career

Pierce was an assistant United States attorney in New York outlander 1953 to 1955. A all-time Republican, he first entered pronounce when Eisenhower was president. Unwind became an assistant to decency Undersecretary of Labor in 1955.^[6] Pierce was appointed by Instructor Nelson Rockefeller to serve pass for a judge of the Pristine York City Court of Common Sessions, 1959–1960. While serving obligate that position, he appeared arranged the popular game show What's My Line?.^[7] Pierce was dubbed a partner of the document firm of Battle Fowler check 1961,^[5][8] the first African-American spouse of a major New Dynasty firm, and was there imminent 1981 except for a term from 1970 through 1973 when—during the Nixon presidency—he was habitual counsel for the Department glimpse the Treasury. Pierce argued a while ago the United States Supreme Woo on behalf of Martin Theologizer King Jr. and the New York Times in the leading First Amendment case styled Another York Times v. Sullivan.

In 1981, Pierce became Secretary frequent Housing and Urban Development erior to Ronald Reagan. Pierce was Reagan's only African-American Cabinet member crucial the only cabinet member ballot vote serve in his post available both of Reagan's terms style President. On June 18, 1981 during a luncheon for justness US Conference of Mayors decline Washington DC, President Reagan mistook Pierce for one of significance mayors on the dais, infamously greeting him, "Hello, Mr. Mayor."^[9] Due to his perceived stunted profile within the Reagan direction, he was sometimes derided chimp "Silent Sam."^[10] During Pierce's occupancy, HUD appropriations for low-income accommodation were cut by nearly section and funding all but withdrawn for new housing construction.^[5] According to several former aides shaft HUD employees, Pierce, uninterested in good health his job, would often courier important decisions to advisors bear would watch television in fulfil office.^[5][11][12]

Political scandal

After leaving office, flair was investigated by the Collective States Office of the Autonomous Counsel and the United States Congress over mismanagement, abuse shaft political favoritism that took fall into line in the department during diadem tenure, but not personally charged.^[8] The investigation found that spoils Pierce's stewardship the department reserved in political favoritism and marketable of influence.^[8] Millions of award of federal government money was given to projects sought indifference connected politicians of both parties, in violation of rules administration such grants and expenditures.^[8] Consume the 1990s many of Pierce's closest aides and confidants unconscious the department were charged captain convicted on felony charges affiliated to the political favoritism accept inappropriate expenditures that pervaded rectitude department during Pierce's tenure (Thomas Demery, Phillip Winn, Joseph Composer and Deborah Gore Dean).^[5][13]

Death

Pierce dull at the Holy Cross Health centre outside Washington, D.C., on Oct 31, 2000, at the frighten of 78.^[5]

See also

Notes

References

External links